GTE takes security down market

Hoping to capture the largely untapped small and medium-sized business market, GTE Internetworking will announce this week a security service that lets corporate customers securely transmit data across the Internet.

Security Advantage, which will retail for $795 a month, is designed to complement the carrier's other two managed security products. Though its other two products have been available for several months, GTE felt the small business market wasn't being addressed.

"A good portion of the people weren't providing security for themselves because it was too expensive," said Mike Shumway, director of managed Internet security.

Based on WatchGuard's firewall, Security Advantage will be managed out of GTE Internetworking's network operations center in Burlington, Mass., with the company's other products.

In related news, GTE said last week that it will expand its virtual private network (VPN) service in a collaborative effort with Nortel Networks. The newest version of VPN Advantage gives enterprise users the option of using their existing Nortel Contivity Extranet switches.

The service is the first major service provider win for Nortel in the VPN market, said Kieran Taylor, market development manager for Nortel.

GTE previously offered a similar service to customers with Timeplex switches.

"We're certainly not downplaying Timeplex in any way. This is just another option for our customers," said Jeff Aliber, product marketing manager for VPN and managed security services with GTE.

Primus Canada, a subsidiary of Primus Telecommunications Group, will acquire the Canadian long-distance operations of London Telecom Group Inc. This purchase makes Primus one of the three largest long-distance providers in Canada among members of the former Stentor alliance.

Wireless competitive local exchange carrier Teligent launched services in San Diego and Sacramento, Calif. The company now has access to 26 markets.

GST Telecommunications Inc. entered a joint agreement with Level 3 Communications to build a long-haul network that will connect San Diego to GST's West Coast fiber backbone. The company plans to complete its western regional network by the end of 1999.